Dave,
Unbrazing the old tubes is the accepted method. I can't imagine how one could get a clean enough interior to get a good fit by grinding unless one takes out part of the intersecting tube also. It then becomes obvious there has been a repair.
There are several tricks to unbrazing tubes that were brazed with brass. Can't go into it all here, but the more one knows the better. Probably the most difficult tube replacement are older Cinellis that have the trhee holes drilled in the lug, are filed thin, and also have a lug that was welded down the center. I've done it several times with perfect success, but it is VERY touchy. Once the tube is out one can reshape the lug edge as neccessary to make sure no evedence of repair is left behind. Then, it is imperative to rebraze the new tube(s) with Easy flo 45 silver brazing alloy. Did a repair like this for Chuck Schmidt a while back and just finished doing one for another listmember not long ago. There's no way to tell that the frame was repaired. Retubing a frame that has been silver brazed is a piece of cake in comparisson to brass brazed frames. That's just another plus to add to the list of reasons to silver braze frames.
Regarding reusing lugs, never tried it myself. Don't see the point in it really. Personally, I find it is easier to make whatever lug pattern one wants using various methods of modifying existing lugs. Of course, since I have a box full of unusual lugs, I'm never Jonesing for lugs to work with. I suppose if one was desperite and had no other options, what the heck; but the concept of reusing lugs doesn't sit well with me personally. I would avoid reusing investment cast lugs that were brass brazed, especially Henry James lugs; I'm certain that's not a good idea. One, you can get those lugs (but why?) any time.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
>
> I have so far only used heatless means (die grinder/Dremel, patience) to
> remove tubes for repairs but has anyone out there successfully un-brazed
> brass brazed lug joints?
> David Feldman
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Philcycles@aol.com>
> To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2001 7:11 AM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Can lugs be re-used?
>
> >
> > In a message dated 5/27/01 6:02:53 AM, tr4play@home.com writes:
> >
> > << Can a fancy lugset that is on a poor condition frameset be taken off
> and
> >
> > used to build a new frameset?
> >
> > >>
> >
> > Yes but it's not as simple as "taken off." It's got to be done carefully,
> > very carefully. For instance, older frames are frequently pinned and the
> pins
> > must be drilled out. Things like that. And it's easier to cut the frame in
> > pieces firsts.
> > Phil Brown